"Bangladesh is the best example of inter-religious harmony in the world"

In an interview with the new Archbishop of Dhaka, Patrick D’Rozario, speaks about the harmony that exists between the different religions and the role the Catholic Church can play there in the coming years

Gerard O'ConnellRome

Patrick D’Rozario was the first Catholic priest to be ordained in Bangladesh after the country gained independence from Pakistan in 1971, following a nine-month war. After ordination in 1972, he served as Project Director of the Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation and assisted over 10,000 families in the war-torn society.

A member of the Holy Cross Congregation, he studied in Dhaka and Karachi before going to Louvain University, Belgium, where he gained his degree in moral theology, a subject he subsequently taught at Dhaka’s major seminary (1976-90).

John Paul II nominated him bishop in 1990, and Benedict XVI appointed him first as coadjutor-bishop, 2010, and then archbishop of Dhaka, October 2011. In this exclusive interview, the sixty-eight year old friendly and dynamic Archbishop talks about the situation and mission of the Church in Bangladesh.

What is the situation of the Catholic Church in Bangladesh today?

A. First of all, we are a tiny minority in the midst of 160 million people, 87% of whom are Muslim and 10% Hindu. Christians count for half a million (0.3% of the population), among them 350, 000 Catholics who are served by 350 priests, 1200 religious sisters and over 100 religious brothers.

After taking over the responsibility of archbishop, I felt an obligation to meet the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. Not to seek her blessing but to tell her what we are committed to. First of all, I said, we are really serving the nation through our educational institutions, our charitable organizations, our health centers and particularly through Caritas, the social arm of the Catholic Church in Bangladesh which is involved in charitable and development activities. Although we are a very small Christian community – John Paul II used to call us ‘little flock’ -, we have an impact on the whole society.

John Paul II visited Bangladesh in 1986.

A. Yes. And we liked when he called us ‘little flock’ because this refers to the Biblical image of being salt to the earth. It doesn’t need much salt to give taste, only a tiny grain gives taste to a whole plate of rice. We see ourselves in that role; we are very small but, as Church, we are self-confident that we can contribute something to the whole nation through the services just mentioned. That is what I told the Prime Minister.

Secondly, I said the Church is committed to speaking about truth, love and justice in social matters. And, thirdly, it is committed to inter-religious dialogue.

Actually in the last three years we bishops met the President and the Prime Minister three times, and on each occasion they asked us to work for inter-religious harmony. This came as a surprise to us because we were already doing so, but since the request came from the Heads of the State, we took it as a kind of mandate and really gave importance to it.

It was in this context that Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, visited us in April 2011. It was beautiful to see the open-hearted way everyone accepted him - Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians alike. He gave a lecture at a seminar in Dhaka University attended by Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Catholics. After his visit, he said Bangladesh is the best example of inter-religious harmony in the whole world. We truly believe that too because culturally there is that basic harmony in the country. Indeed, this is a heritage we have had for very many years.

Doesn’t it go back to the founding of Bangladesh in1971?

Right! As you know, when Pakistan was created in the India-Pakistan division in 1947, harmony was forgotten in some way. But in the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 that harmony, a culture feature of Bengali nationalism, was one of the principle criteria for having an independent Bangladesh. Indeed Bangladesh was founded on four principles: secularism, nationalism, socialism and democracy.

When you met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of the founding father of the nation -Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, you explained the three things the Church is committed to doing, and she encouraged you to promote harmony between the religions.

Right! And we do this through our schools, our health-care and charitable services, and Caritas Bangladesh. All our schools – 300 primary schools and 46 secondary schools, and - are open to children and young people of all religions. The same will be true for the first Catholic university in the country, which we are opening in Dhaka. Likewise, about 75% of the employees in Caritas are non-Christian, but they are partners with us; we have our own philosophy and vision and that is shared by them. So this is the uniqueness of all the charitable and social work we do. Another value that culturally we hold high is the fact that any authentically religious person is accepted by people of all other religions.

Q. Clearly there is great respect for religion in Bangladesh, and little room for the kind of secularism one finds in the West

A. This is my reflection: secularism for us means the recognition of all religions. Religion is not a private affair for us; our personal identity is a religious identity. When the President of Germany, Christian Wulff, came and met seven religious leaders from four major religions, including myself, we told him that you don’t find another country where the President and Prime Minister are calling the non-Muslims to celebrate their festivals. When it is the Buddhists’ festival, they throw a party for the Buddhists, and they do the same for Hindus and for Christians. So religion is not a private affair.

Moreover, for example, when it is the Muslim Feast of Milauddunnabi, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, this is celebrated in all the Christian schools. Likewise, when we celebrate Christmas, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists will come and even give talks. This kind of thing is unique to Bangladesh.

This is an extraordinary message of harmony between the religions, but isn’t there fundamentalist militancy in the country too?

A. Such militancy and all that comes with it does exist, but it is not yet widespread, it is marginalized. And remember, the militancy is not only against the minorities, no, even the Muslims are affected; the intelligentsia of the country is worried.

Poverty is a big problem in Bangladesh; approximately 40 million people are living below the poverty level.

Yes. Poverty is a curse. People should not be living without having the basic necessities of life. Poverty must be eradicated; it is something we must fight against, it is an injustice. But at the same time we see poverty is also evangelical, in the sense that people are happy with little, people think of the others, and have an altruistic attitude. Any foreigner coming to Bangladesh can see that although the people have so many problems, so much misery, still they are happy, they can smile. So this evangelical poverty, as I call it, should not be seen all negatively. Having everything, being rich by itself does not give that happiness which our people have and which they must not lose; this is our heritage too.

One can truly say the Church in Bangladesh is the Church of the poor.

Yes, we are the Church of the poor. When we met the Prime Minister I told her that we are going to give priority attention to climate change because Bangladesh is most affected by climate change and so the whole world has to think about this small country, these poor people who are living evangelical poverty.

But to work for justice in climate change is not simply a question of adaptation programs, and providing financial aid in justice to poor nations like Bangladesh. Our specific contribution should be more ethical and spiritual, reflecting on the creation. To have a new creation you need a new mind, new thinking. So we are going to involve Caritas Internationalis; its Secretary General came and we talked about this. We may be a very small Church but we can pick up things which others will not.

From your perspective as Archbishop of Dhaka, what role do you see for the Catholic Church in Bangladesh in the coming years?

I see the Church playing a big role in the country, especially speaking out on different issues because the truth has to be said. Sometimes political parties or different groups are bound to their own agendas, but we must act as a voice of conscience for the people, and do so with more decision and commitment.

Secondly, I see a renewal of faith commitment, because being Christian is not simply a matter of being so in name, it means being committed in faith. Thirdly, our Church has a pastoral plan that focuses mainly on the families and basic communities. A fourth priority is to promote the participation of the laity in the Church. The formation of the laity is a must so that they can participate fully in their family and professional lives and become evangelizers.

Really, I think it is a blessing to be a religious minority in Bangladesh, in the sense that being Christian in the midst of so many other religions makes us think how we are different, what our identity is as Christians and Catholics, and how we can give testimony to our faith.